Anatomy Commons^™

Impella 5.5 Versus Heartmate 3 In Left Ventricular Unloading, Hannah Frederick, Douglas Tran, Erik Sorenson, H. Todd Massey, Albert Hicks, Manjula Ananthram, Bartley P. Griffith, Aakash Shah

The VAD Journal

The Impella 5.5 (Abiomed) is increasingly used as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation in advanced heart failure, yet most studies focus on survival and transition success rather than left ventricular (LV) unloading or valvular effects. This study addresses this gap by comparing Impella 5.5 and HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) in terms of unloading and cardiac support at similar flow rates. We conducted a retrospective study of nine patients who received Impella 5.5 before HM3 implantation. The primary outcome was the degree of LV unloading, as assessed by changes in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). There …

The A1 Segment Of The Anterior Cerebral Artery: A Systematic Review Of Cadaveric Morphometry Studies, Marlena Muszynska, Emily Awdish, Afua Osei-Wusu, Parker Ballard

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The P1 Segment Of The Posterior Cerebral Artery: A Systematic Review Of Cadaveric Morphometry Studies, Marlena Muszynska, Afua Osei-Wusu, Emily Awdish, Parker Ballard

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Review Of Methodological Practices In Cadaveric Cerebral Arterial Morphometry: Variability In Contemporary Protocols (2015-2025), Marlena Muszynska, Emily Awdish, Afua Osei-Wusu, Parker Ballard

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

What Did We Learn About Vads In 2024-2025?, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

This is our 11th annual literature review on left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Our previous reports were well received by readers.^1-10 In prior years, we also included other forms of mechanical circulatory support (MCS); however, this year, we present a separate review focused exclusively on temporary MCS.

In this article, we summarize the most interesting, from our standpoint, publications from 2024 and 2025, with some inclusion of late 2023 studies that were initially released online before print. For the first time, we provide an independent review on short-term MSC devices, including the intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella (Abiomed), and extracorporeal …

Bilateral Congenital Radioulnar Synostosis - Case Report, Derek A. Diangelis, Matthew J. Hudson

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

A 2-year-old male presented to an orthopedic outpatient office due to a supination defect in both of his upper limbs. X-rays of the affected limbs revealed fusion of the proximal radioulnar joints indicating congenital radioulnar synostosis (CRUS). CRUS is abnormal development of the upper limbs occurring during weeks 3—7 of embryological development. Causes of CRUS include genetic syndromes and spontaneous mutations. Treatment options include nonoperative and surgical treatments, however, treatment is controversial due to a lack of clinical evidence. Proposed screening methods could help improve detection rates and improve clinical management. This report aims to increase awareness of CRUS and …

Nstemi Or Pericarditis: Which Came First?, Trisha K. Mehta, Steven Clark, Garrett Barb, Magdelynn Mege, Umber Waseem

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cardiac event often occurring in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. MI is classified by the presence of ST segment elevation (STEMI) or non-ST segment elevation (NSTEMI). Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The patient under discussion is an 86-year-old male with a previous history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). He presented with a three-week history of exertional chest pain that abated with rest and worsened while supine. EKG and laboratory findings supported a diagnosis of NSTEMI, …

Effects Of Peripheral Sympathetic Denervation On Phytohemagglutinin (Pha) Induced Cutaneous Swelling In The Hock And Tail Of Mice, Ayusha Pokharel '27, Masyn Naegele '26

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) carries stress signals directly to the site of injury and activates the immune system via direct neuronal innervation or release of systemic hormones. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a neurotoxin that causes denervation of the SNS by eliminating the peripheral nerve terminals, which are responsible for sending the stress signals. The effect of sympathetic denervation on the localized immune response is unexplored in the literature. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the effect of 6-OHDA-induced sympathetic denervation on local inflammation following phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced swelling. Even under resting circumstances, some baseline level of stress is communicated to the …

Mechanical Characterization And Modeling Of Rat Myocardia Under The Influence Of Epirubicin, Abdallah Mahmoud Alkhaiyat

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains a predominant health challenge that is responsible for a significant portion of global morbidity and mortality. Epirubicin (EPI), a chemotherapeutic anti-cancer drug, has shown remarkable efficacy in combating various malignancies. However, it is known to have undesirable side effects on the heart, collectively referred to as cardiotoxicity. This research investigates the adverse effects of chemotherapy on cardiac contractility through an in vitro examination of the mechanics of healthy and infarcted animal heart tissues. Electrically stimulated slices of rat ventricular tissue were tested using an isometric force measurement tissue bath. The tissue slices were subjected to uniaxial stretching, allowing …

Real-Time Hemodynamic Deterioration Following Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia In A Patient With Preexisting Aicd Implanted With Lvad, Dhruvil Patel, Maya Guglin, Deepa Iyer, Chonyang Albert, Jagpreet Grewal, Kenneth Dulnuan

The VAD Journal

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are common in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), but the literature remains inconclusive regarding the benefits of an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) in this population, especially in those with a preexisting device before LVAD implantation. Here, we report the acute hemodynamic consequences of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a patient with a preexisting biventricular AICD who was implanted with an LVAD (HeartMate 3). This case underscores the importance of considering AICD placement on a case-by-case basis and highlights the need for a well-designed study to establish its benefit in this population.

Direct Effects Of Capsaicin On Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels Of Mammalian Skeletal Muscle, Dmytro Isaev, Tatiana Prytkova, Badarunnisa Mohamed, Mohamed Omar Mahgoub, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Murat Oz

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Capsaicin, a naturally occurring polyphenol, is known to affect energy expenditure and muscle fatigue and modulate contractions in skeletal muscle. The L-type Ca²⁺ channels are known to be an important ion channel involved in the various muscle functions and the effect of capsaicin on the skeletal L-type Ca²⁺ channels is currently unknown. In this study, the effects of capsaicin and capsaicin analogs on depolarization-induced Ca²⁺ effluxes through L-type Ca²⁺ channels in transverse tubule membranes from rabbit skeletal muscle and L-type Ca²⁺ currents recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique in rat myotubes were examined. Capsaicin, …

The Role Of Extracellular Vesicles As Diagnostic Tools In Gut-Brain Axis Disorders, Patricia Marçal Da Costa, Paulo Iury Gomes Nunes, Gabriella Cunha Vieira Ciurleo, José Wagner Leonel Tavares Junior, Pedro Braga Neto, Ludmila Belayev, Reinaldo Barreto Oriá

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The gut–brain axis represents a dynamic two-way signaling network whose dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of neurogastrointestinal disorders. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular signaling and as promising non-invasive biomarkers. Derived from host and microbial cells, EVs carry bioactive cargo—including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites—that reflect the physiological or pathological state of their cells of origin. Their ability to cross biological barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier, underscores their potential for diagnosing and monitoring gut–brain axis dysfunctions. In this mini-review, we integrate microbial and brain-derived EVs within the framework …

A Cost-Consequence Analysis Of The Children’S Administration Oxygenation Strategies Trial (Coast) In Severe Pneumonia, Orlagh U. Carroll, Richard Grieve, Sarah Kiguli, Peter Olupot-Olupot, Robert Opoka, Charles Engoru, Florence Alaroker, Abner Tagoola, Mainga Hamaluba, Eva Nabawanuka

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Oxygen supplementation is a recommended treatment for children with severe pneumonia or hypoxaemia. The open, fractional-factorial Children’s Oxygen Administration Strategies Trial (COAST) recruited Kenyan and Ugandan children with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia. Participants in the severe hypoxaemia stratum (SpO₂ <  80%) were randomised to high-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) or low-flow oxygen (LFO), and in the hypoxaemia stratum (SpO₂ 80–91%) to HFNT, LFO or permissive hypoxaemia (ratio 1:1:2). The trial stopped early and there is ongoing uncertainty about the clinical benefits of the alternative strategies. There is a lack of evidence about the relative costs, of alternative oxygen delivery for critically-ill children in low- and middle- income countries. We used data from COAST to conduct a cost-consequence analysis …

Don't Drink And Game: A Dual Mechanism Myelopathy Case Report, Benjamin Smith, Eyovel Eyassu, Sweta Thakur

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Heavy Resistance Training On Type Ii Muscle Fibers Throughout Female Reproductive Stages, Lily G. Colberg

Scripps Senior Theses

Type II muscle fibers, also known as fast-twitch muscle fibers, are reliant on aerobic glycolysis and are crucial for high-force contractions, mobility, and rapid movements, such as fast reflexes. Heavy resistance training has been found to increase type II muscle fiber concentration in young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals. However, there have been few studies conducted on female-only sample populations. In women, the impact of heavy resistance training on type II muscle fibers is affected by the progressive decline of estrogen that defines the transition throughout the four female reproductive stages: premenopause, perimenopause, late-transition menopause, and postmenopause. Menopausal estrogen depletion causes …

Establishment And Histopathological Characterization Of A Kyse-30 Subcutaneous Xenograft Model Of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Pavel A. Solopov, Alayna Enos, Mantas Silkunas, Giedre Silkuniene, Eleni Zivla, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Olga N. Pakhomova

Bioelectrics Publications

Background/Objectives: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options, highlighting the need for reliable preclinical models for translational research. Although xenograft models are widely used in cancer biology, systematic characterization of subcutaneous ESCC models under defined implantation conditions remains limited. The objective of this study was to systematically compare implantation conditions and define histopathological and growth-related parameters that enable reproducible tumor establishment while maintaining a practical experimental window for therapeutic studies. Methods: We established and characterized a subcutaneous ESCC xenograft model using human ESCC cell line KYSE-30 implanted into immunodeficient J:NU mice. …

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

Acute Aortic Dissection Masquerading As Testicular Torsion: A Case Report, Bruce M. Lo, Megyn K. Christensen, Coral E. Byrns, Benjamin Chidester

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate if diagnosis is delayed. Aortic dissection classically presents with sudden-onset, sharp pain in the chest or back. However, atypical presentations can also occur, which could lead to a delay in diagnosis.

Case Report: A patient initially presented to the emergency department (ED) with left testicular pain ongoing for several hours. On examination, he had tenderness in the left lower quadrant abdomen and left testicle. A testicular ultrasound revealed decreased blood flow to the left testicle, raising concern for testicular torsion. The patient was taken to the …

Glial Cytokine Modulation Improves Sleep And Circadian Disruption In Female Saa Knock-In Mice Of Alzheimer’S-Related Pathology, Teresa Macheda, Margaret R. Hawkins, Carrie E. Johnson, Madison G. Lapid, Haleigh R. Whitlock, Savannah M. Shepard, Makayla F. Cox, Kelly N. Roberts, Leke Bytyqi, Heather M. Hash, Omar A. Abou El-Ezz, Mohammed Abou El-Ezz, Katharina Kohler, Sridhar Sunderam, Bruce F. O'Hara, Linda J. Van Eldik, Michael Paul Murphy, Marilyn J. Duncan, Adam D. Bachstetter

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Introduction: Sleep and circadian disturbances are early Alzheimer's disease (AD) features, yet mechanisms linking amyloid pathology, neuroinflammation, and sex differences remain unclear.

Methods: We longitudinally assessed sleep, circadian rhythms, and cognition in female and male hAPP^SAA knock-in and control mice from 2 to 19 months using piezoelectric monitoring. Aged mice (15 months) received MW151, a glial cytokine inhibitor (2.5 mg/kg, every other day, 6 weeks).

Results: Only females exhibited midlife reductions in light-phase sleep, increased rhythm fragmentation, and reduced rhythm stability, coinciding with selective reversal learning deficits, effects independent of amyloid or cytokine burden. MW151 increased light-phase sleep and …

From Fog To Function: An Occupational Therapist's Guide To Evaluating And Treating Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairments, Lauren E. Toner

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Cancer – related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a common side effect of cancer treatment that interferes with cancer survivors’ occupational performance, independence, and quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, CRCI remains under recognized and inconsistently addressed within oncology care. About 70% of individuals diagnosed with cancer report cognitive changes during or after treatment, yet many do not receive treatment. Occupational therapists are clinically trained to evaluate and treat functional cognition, activities of daily activities, instrumental activities of daily living, and client centered goals, positioning them as key providers in addressing CRCI. However, limited occupational therapy specific resources have hindered …